Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-04-18
Dailn 2resa and 1akotaian
LlneoLs's REMAINS
secret of Years Divuigcd by Thos.

XL&r - sH Is --EEu1 - sN 81 Z =aa
a Secret OF Years DivuIged by Those
vhosGuarded the Sacred Ashes.
Springfield, April 1.-THE annual
Lincoln memorial exercises will be held
in the hall OF the house of representa-
tires tomorrow. The deepest interest is
being manifested in the approaching ex-
eroises In honor OF the martyred presi-
dent, on account of the revelations
which are expected to be made relative
to the disposition OF the body of Presi-
dent Lincoln after the attempt was
made in 1876 to steal the body from
the sarcophagus under the Lincoln
monument, in which 1t was placed.
The facts, az nea as could be ascertained
by a press reporter, and which will be
brought to light Tomorrow in an
address to be made by Clinton T..
Oonkling, one OF the members of the
Lincoln guard of honor, are as
follows: On the night OF November
u, 1876, Mullins and Hughes, two
Chicago thieves, made an n
successful attempt to steal the body of
the late President LINCOLN. The marble
sarcophagus in which it was enclosed,
and which was exposed to the view If
visitors through the iron grating on the
north side of the monument, was forced
open and the coffin was taken out, bat
at this point the robbers were interfered
with by cef tain persons secreted in the
monument, who had received informa-
tion that the robbery was to be at
tempted, and they abandoned their
arrange booty. Since that time che pub
hc mind has been IN q state of I'M
certainty as to the real resting place of
the martyrs body, o report haYing got
out that it WAS not returned to the sar-
cophagas after the attempted robbery.
All the mystery that has attached to the
matter is now cleared away. 1t appears
tnat the body was replaced in the sar-
cophagus, and remained there
for about q week. The members
Of the association, however,
felt that it was insecure, and it was
subsequently removed to q place of great.
er safety. Finally the Lincoln Guard of
Honor, which is composed of some of
our best-known, and most highly re-
Ispected citizens was organized, and one
of the duties of this association has been
to sacredly guard the body of the dead
president. During the month OF NoYem-
Der, 1878, the members OF the guard. with
their own hands prepared a vault within
the monument for the body. An ex-
6avation was made in the earth about
thirty feet south of the sarcophagus,
and the body was safely deposited there
and the mouth of the excavation was
cloBed. The atmosphere at the point
where the excavation was made was
almost sitting and the work was pros
ecuted ct different times during the
stiffness OF the night with no human eye
to witness it q " these who were assist.
ing in the labor Of love. Two days after
the funeral OF Mrs. LINCOLN in July, 1882,
her body was taken by the guard and
laid beside that of her hns-
band. The members bound themselves
By the solemnity of an oath not toire-
veal what had been done until the prop
or time-should arrive to do 80, and that
time has now arrived. Yesterday both
Eof these bodies were taken by, the Lin
E~0olnaguard of honor, in the presence soi
the monument association, and placed
in a new receptacle, prepared for them
during the week. This receptacle is in
the earth, near where the sarcophagus
has SO tongJaid. Ithas on the bottom
twelve inches OF cement and has double
walls OF brick. The entrance to 1T, now
that the bodies have been placed in
their final resting place, lie cemented over
and greHted, and this will 10 time be-
eenasN,s solid 40 rock. after this work
had been completed the bodies were
Normally turnedEoyer by The guard to
the monument association and were ac-
nepted by ait.w Before being finally en-.
tened the body of Lincoln was opened
and identified. The hair and whlskers
have fallen off and the face is very black.
Thee contour is, however, still perfect
and the face is said to strongly resemble
that of the bronze statue in the monu-
ment.